Sustainable Energy Development

Sustainable energy development is increasingly important globally, national and within the circumpolar Arctic. The tension between environment and development is evident in the production and use of energy. Fossil fuels have supported modern societies and lifted billions of people out of poverty. They have also changed landscapes and polluted air and water. Now the production of carbon dioxide is changing the climate.

United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has launched the Sustainable Energy for All, and 2012 has been designated as International Year of Sustainable Energy for All. The Sustainable Energy for All initiative has three interlinked global objectives for 2030: ensuring universal access to modern energy services; doubling the rate of improvement in energy efficiency; and doubling the share of renewable energy in the global energy mix. Energy enables the three pillars of sustainable development – economic development, social development, and environmental protection.

The circumpolar Arctic, remote regions, small island developing states (SIDS), and developing countries need flexibility in how they generate energy, but this energy can be low carbon, renewable and delivered and used efficiently. Terrestrial and offshore winds, solar, geothermal energy, biofuels, and other renewable resources can meet energy needs, while supporting local development, achieving greenhouse gas emission reductions, and addressing crucial issues such as energy and water security.

The research is multi-faceted focusing on national and regional policy and fiscal initiatives, public and private partnerships, and civil society initiatives to encourage renewable energy and energy efficiency in the circumpolar Arctic, SIDS, developing states, Europe, North America, and globally. The research also focuses on specific initiatives and projects, education and training, and includes a consideration of linkages between renewable energy and energy efficiency projects for the circumpolar Arctic, remote regions, SIDS, and developing countries.

One of the first themes being explored in more detail is the role of renewable energy in addressing water security, quality and quantity, through innovative integrations of energy and water systems, and integration of renewable energy with desalination and aquifer replenishment and management. The Arctic, SIDS and arid regions have common needs to integrate energy and water systems, energy and water uses and efficiencies in order to achieve sustainable energy development and poverty alleviation, and to assist in adapting to climate change.

The Arctic, SIDS and arid regions have extensive geothermal, ocean, solar, and wind resources, but rely on hydrocarbons to generate electricity. In particular, the Arctic and SIDS share common environmental and oil spill risks to land and seas from the transport of hydrocarbons from ships to the generation facilities. All regions have common issues with water quality and water scarcity that renewable energy, desalination, ground water and aquifer management and replenishment, and innovative approaches to water treatment can address.
The Arctic, SIDS and arid regions are at the forefront of impacts to climate change and adapting to these impacts including higher temperatures, changing seasonal and annual precipitation, depletion of aquifers and groundwater, saline intrusion of coastal and island aquifers, and increased water quality issues and incidences of waterborne illnesses.
In all regions, the intermittent nature of renewable energy can be addressed by energy and water storage options (including hydrogen storage and aquifer re-injection and management) or by retaining hydrocarbon generation as backup, emergency or peak energy source. For adjacent islands, transmission lines between islands can integrate renewable resources and markets.
For all regions, there are rich sources of customary, local and traditional knowledge and technologies in managing energy and water resources and needs (i.e., water harvesting, storage and irrigation; traditional architecture and buildings), which can augment and complement renewable energy knowledge and technology, and the integration of energy and water systems.
Parallel issues of external investment, and technology transfer and capacity development for renewable energy technologies and projects for the Arctic and SIDS. As knowledge, technologies and projects evolve, knowledge and technology transfer and capacity development can occur between the Arctic, SIDS and arid regions, and globally.

Sustainable energy development and water linkages have already been recognized in the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development Rio + 20. There have been preparatory conferences, ubmissions, and the the development of a Zero draft for the Rio + 20 Conference that all recognize the links between energy and water. There are opportunities for collaboration and strategic allegiance in the Rio + 20 Conference on research, project development, technology and capacity development transfer for energy and water across the circumpolar Arctic, arid regions and small islands. Additionally, there could be opportunities for building synergies (including knowledge and technology exchanges and capacity development) between those arid regions which are currently leading in the use of renewable energy technologies and projects to address water security and scarcity, and the Arctic, small islands and other regions of the world. Last, renewable energy projects that are not integrated in electricity grids may also be eligible for carbon credit as small scale renewable energy projects under the Clean Development Mechanism, which may improve the economics of some of these projects.

Other international meetings and processes also recognize energy and linkages. For example, at the 2nd Assembly of the International Renewable Energy Agency and at the World Future Energy Summit in Abu Dhabi in January 2012, there was political recognition of the nexus between energy and water by the arid countries of the Middle East and Gulf States, as well as focused assistance on the Pacific region for renewable energy and desalination by Asian states. This energy and water connection was recognized in the Marseille Declaration, which was issued on March 13, 2012 at the World Water Forum. Finally, the launch of the International Water Summit, in conjunction with the World Future Energy Summit in Abu Dhabi in January 2013, also indicates the growing acknowledgement of the connection between energy and water.

Two initial presentations on this research consider the role of offshore wind and oceans resources, and how renewable energy can provide energy and water security. The research includes a national and international policy component. Submissions have been made on sustainable energy and water in preparatory meetings for the Rio + 20 United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development and the negotiating draft for that conference.

Energy, water and food security are all intertwined for Arctic and remote regions, arid regions, and developed and developing countries. A introductory presentation has been made on this research focus at the International Institute of Sustainable Development-Global Water System Project Conference on Energy-Water –Food Security Nexus in Winnipeg, Manitoba from May 1 to 4, 2012: Role of Energy and Water Systems, and Renewable Energy and Aquifer Management for Food.

Further research on the nexus of energy, water and food security is underway with participating islands, countries and regions. International policy developments are also underway, such as the Global Dry Land Alliance initially raised by Qatar at the 66th Session of UN General Assembly in September 2011, and expected to be launched by December 2012 to coincide with United Nations Framework Convention Climate Change Convention (UNFCCC) Conference of the Parties 17 in Doha, Qatar. The Global Dry Land Alliance could boost food security in arid region, through common research and adoption of energy and water systems and technologies by member states.

Another stage of the research considers the integration of energy, water and heat systems and possible role of renewable energy for the circumpolar Arctic and polar regions. An abstract entitled Integrating Renewable Energy, Heat, and Water Quality and Quantity for Sustainable Energy and Water Projects for the Canadian Arctic and Remote Regions of Canada has been accepted for the Quest International Conference: Smart Energy Communities in Cold Climates.

The integration of energy and water systems, and the use of renewable energy will have multiple benefits for Canadian communities that are located off the electricity grid. Many off-grid communities have significant energy needs, and are currently relying on expensive hydrocarbons for electricity generation. However, renewable energy sources - such as hydro, geothermal, wind, and ocean - may also be available. Many of these communities also have longstanding issues with water quality, sanitation and the treatment of waste water, which may be ameliorated by the integration of energy and water systems, and renewable energy and heat projects.

The Sustainable Energy Development project is implemented in cooperation with the Master of Science - Energy Policy & Climate Program at John Hopkins University in Washington D.C., the Coastal and Marine Union (EUCC) based in Leiden, Netherlands; and the Institute of Sustainable Energy, Environment and Economy and the Master of Science in Sustainable Energy Development at the University of Calgary.

Investigator: Magdalena A K Muir, Research Associate, Arctic Institute of North America; Adjunct Professor, John Hopkins University; and Advisory Board Member, Coastal and Marine Union.